Hi everyone! I'm Madison. I grew up in Pasadena, California, but spent eight years living in Manila, Philippines, and one year in Spain. I'm planning to double major in Film and Media Studies and Sociology, with a minor in Human-Centered Design. I love spending quality time with people and having good conversations. I'm so excited to share my college journey with you!
Academic Program
Majors in Film and Media Studies and Sociology, Minor in Human Centered Design
At Dartmouth, I'm constantly impressed by student-athlete friends who balance academics, social life, and demanding athletic schedules. Curious how they do it? Read on for a closer look at the life of a swim & dive student-athlete through Klara.
Q. What does a typical day look like balancing school, practice, and everything else?
Klara: On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I have "lift" practice in the morning for the Swimming & Diving Team. Typically, I wake up at around 7, and around 7:45, I head to Collis to grab a smoothie before lift. Then I walk to my changing room, get dressed, and then I walk to "lift" at 8:30. After "lift," I go into the diving pool and do my diving session. I prepare quickly for my 11:30 class, which is my seminar, and then I go to my Econ 1 class. After class, I usually go toFoco or Collis to meet up with friends and eat some lunch. Then, I typically go to the library or to my dorm to study a little bit. By night, I go and eat with friends and return to the library.
Q. How would you describe the vibe of your team?
Klara: It's like a big family. Everyone is very open to each other and is very friendly. We have so much fun together. There's a whole bunch of personalities on the team, and we all work super well together; it's just so fun to hang out with everyone.
Q. Can you share a favorite team memory or moment?
Klara: As a first-year diver, competing in Ivys was a fun experience, especially celebrating afterward. We put in a lot of hard work during the fall and winter, so ending the season with our final competition going so well felt rewarding.
Q. How do you stay focused or motivated when things get overwhelming?
Klara: If I have a lot going on in school, I still do activities that don't involve schoolwork. If I'm feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork and stressed from just sitting there, I go into town—to the bookstore or something like that—and it helps calm me down. It's still close to campus, but being in town helps reset my mind a little. I'll also do fun activities, call my friends from Sweden, call my mom, or ask my parents to send pictures of my dog and cats, which motivates me. Small things like that, and of course, self-care.
Q. What's been your proudest moment so far as a student-athlete?
Klara: It was qualifying for Zones. There are five different zones in the U.S., and we're in Zone A, competing against various universities. You have to earn certain points in that special competition to qualify. At first, I struggled to gain the points, but in the end, I got them and qualified.
Q. What does "success" look like to you right now?
Klara: Success is about balancing my time, having fun in classes, and doing well in them while keeping up with my diving and still having time for social activities.
Q. Any advice you'd give to future students trying to balance academics and sports?
Klara: Make time for yourself as well. It's easy to think, 'Oh, I have to do this, I have to do that with the team.' Of course, it is important to spend time with your team, but I also think that if you're super tired one night, allow yourself to have your own time for self-care. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming because there are so many activities going on. Allow yourself to be by yourself a little bit. Also, plan your time wisely. I didn't really schedule things before college; I didn't even have a calendar, and now my calendar is literally my best friend. I have to plan every minute, so make sure to do that!
At Dartmouth, I'm constantly impressed by student-athlete friends who balance academics, social life, and demanding athletic schedules. Curious how they do it? Read on for a closer look at the life of a basketball student-athlete through Connor.
At Dartmouth, I'm constantly impressed by student-athlete friends who balance academics, social life, and demanding athletic schedules. Curious how they do it? Read on for a closer look at the life of a baseball student-athlete through Alejandro.
At Dartmouth, I'm constantly impressed by student-athlete friends who balance academics, social life, and demanding athletic schedules. Curious how they do it? Read on for a closer look at the life of a track & field student-athlete through David.
